Why I Chose Perception Sit-on-top Kayaks
First Kayak
My first kayak was a sit-on-top (SOT) Perception Tribe 9.5. I had no idea what I was doing when I bought it, but I sure did luck out. It’s been stable, easy to paddle, not too heavy, there's a flat area for my dog, and it tracks quite well, even in windy waters. It wasn’t until after I bought it that I checked Paddling.com and Amazon for their reviews on this brand. Turns out, lots of other people like them, too.
My first kayak was a sit-on-top (SOT) Perception Tribe 9.5. I had no idea what I was doing when I bought it, but I sure did luck out. It’s been stable, easy to paddle, not too heavy, there's a flat area for my dog, and it tracks quite well, even in windy waters. It wasn’t until after I bought it that I checked Paddling.com and Amazon for their reviews on this brand. Turns out, lots of other people like them, too.
Don't Get Yakked Off!
Used Perception Tribe 9.5
I bought mine used from a great guy, Phillip, in Bountiful, Utah. He advised me on how to carry a kayak on my compact car and even helped me lift it up and strap it on. And he threw in a paddle, since I didn’t have one of those yet. He assured me I was getting a great buy on my new-to-me kayak and that it would last forever, if I treated it right. After a year of paddling around Utah’s reservoirs and rivers, I decided to buy another kayak so I could take friends with me on my excursions.
Used Perception Tribe 9.5
I bought mine used from a great guy, Phillip, in Bountiful, Utah. He advised me on how to carry a kayak on my compact car and even helped me lift it up and strap it on. And he threw in a paddle, since I didn’t have one of those yet. He assured me I was getting a great buy on my new-to-me kayak and that it would last forever, if I treated it right. After a year of paddling around Utah’s reservoirs and rivers, I decided to buy another kayak so I could take friends with me on my excursions.
Perception Tribe 9.5 - I Love This Yak!
Perception Tribe vs. Sport
This time, I did my research before buying; but I still decided to go with the Perception brand. It just seemed like a good all-around choice for performance, price and longevity. The only problem was, I couldn’t find a used Perception kayak in my area. I was just about to buy a new one from Amazon when I saw a Perception Sport – Kick 9.5 in the local online classifieds (ksl.com). I called Perception’s customer service number (888-525-2925) and learned that Perception Sport kayaks are manufactured exclusively for Dick’s Sporting Goods. Even though this is Perception’s lower-end line, the price was right so I bought it anyway. It's stable and light enough for me to load on my own; however, it is a little wiggly in its tracking. That’s fine – I’ll paddle my Tribe and let my friends use the Sport!
Perception Tribe vs. Sport
This time, I did my research before buying; but I still decided to go with the Perception brand. It just seemed like a good all-around choice for performance, price and longevity. The only problem was, I couldn’t find a used Perception kayak in my area. I was just about to buy a new one from Amazon when I saw a Perception Sport – Kick 9.5 in the local online classifieds (ksl.com). I called Perception’s customer service number (888-525-2925) and learned that Perception Sport kayaks are manufactured exclusively for Dick’s Sporting Goods. Even though this is Perception’s lower-end line, the price was right so I bought it anyway. It's stable and light enough for me to load on my own; however, it is a little wiggly in its tracking. That’s fine – I’ll paddle my Tribe and let my friends use the Sport!
Perception Sport Kick 9.5
How to Verify Your Kayak
If you find a Perception kayak you’re considering purchasing, you can check the recessed rectangular area on the right (starboard) side of the back (stern) of the boat. This has the unique serial number for each kayak. The last three numbers show the year it was molded and the model year.
